Throughout December and January: Whole Child and Common Core

Educators have a unique opportunity to reset the playing field and make the Common Core State Standards work for them. We can implement the standards, align them to a whole child approach to education, and ensure that both support and enhance each other. The Common Core standards and a whole child approach are not opposites, and they do not and should not have to be in opposition.

Join us throughout December and January as we investigate how the standards integrate and align within a whole child approach and how a strong framework can support a well-rounded education that prepares students for college, career, and citizenship success. Overall, we will highlight how now is the time for educators to take control and become empowered in the process. The outcomes will depend on what you decide to do for the Common Core standards within a whole child approach and how you decide to do it.

The Whole Child Blog

Check out the Whole Child Blog for contributions from experts and practitioners in the fiel; whole child partners; and ASCD staff, who will share free resources, provide examples of integrating and aligning the Common Core standards and a whole child approach, and answer your questions. Be sure to leave your questions, ideas, and stories in the comments.

What Works in the Common Core Standards

Visit the What Works section for a one-stop (free!) shop to explore issues that must be transformed for us to successfully educate the whole child. Our topic pages are a collection of resources on the topics we address each month. This month, we'll add resources to the Common Core topic page. Tell us what has worked in your school and with your students. E-mail us and share resources, research, and examples.

Social Networking

Connect (if you haven't already) with the Whole Child Initiative on Facebook and Twitter to be part of changing the conversation about the importance of a whole child approach to education with more than 15,000 people from around the globe.